Sports & Activities

1. Te fa'ahe'e 'are

   Surfing

   Usage

   Tahiti's national sport; Teahupo'o is known for world-class waves

   Grammar Note

   tāhora means "a plain, open country". Surfing is fa'ahe'e and a wave is 'are. Teahupo'o is a world-famous surf break

2. Te tata'ura'a va'a

   Outrigger canoe racing

   Usage

   Traditional Polynesian canoe sport; one of the most popular in Tahiti

   Grammar Note

   tā'ōto is ta'oto "to sleep", not "a race". Canoe racing is tata'ura'a va'a

3. E hi'o tātou i te tu'era'a pōpō

   Let's watch football together

   Usage

   Casual invitation to watch a game together

   Grammar Note

   ⚠ tāravao is the place name of Tahiti's isthmus, not "ball game". Football is tu'era'a pōpō. E … tātou is the hortative

4. 'Ua horo vau

   I ran

   Usage

   Used in conversation after exercise or jogging

   Grammar Note

   Tahitian places aspect markers before verbs; "Ua" signals completion

5. 'Ua maita'i tō'u tino

   My body feels good / I'm in good shape

   Usage

   Used after exercise or to express physical wellbeing

   Grammar Note

   "In good condition" is maita'i ("goodness") and "body" is tino. ua marks the resulting state

6. 'Ua pūai te pupu

   The team is strong

   Usage

   Used when watching or cheering at a sporting event

   Grammar Note

   pāpū means "certain, sure", not "strong". "Strong" is pūai ("muscular and physical strength") and a team is pupu.

7. E pa'uma tātou i te mou'a

   Let's climb the mountain

   Usage

   Tahiti has popular hiking trails; used to invite someone

   Grammar Note

   ⚠ tāhu'a is tahu'a "priest / expert", not "mountain". A mountain is mou'a. "To climb" is pa'uma (also ta'uma, 'a'e)

8. Te 'aura'a i te miti

   Swimming in the sea

   Usage

   A staple activity in Tahiti, often referring to swimming in the lagoon

   Grammar Note

   "To swim" is 'au (used in "E ti'a 'ānei ia'u ia 'au"), nominalised with -ra'a. miti is "salt water"

9. 'Ua riro vau ei upo'oti'a

   I won / I became the champion

   Usage

   Used after winning a game or competition

   Grammar Note

   toa is the ironwood tree (casuarina) and figuratively a warrior, not a sports winner. A victor is upo'oti'a. riro … ei is the "become" construction

10. Tei hea te ha'utira'a?

    Where is the game?

    Usage

    Used to ask where a game or match takes place

    Grammar Note

    hāpū means "pregnant / a hollow". A game or play session is ha'utira'a (jeu = ha'utira'a, jouer = ha'uti). No Tahitian word covers "training session" alone, so the question asks where the play takes place. Nō hea means "from where", so the locative Tei hea is used

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